Goulburn could take up to 15 years to establish new cemetery land, prompting calls for long-term planning as existing burial capacity declines.
Goulburn Mulwaree Councillor Daniel Strickland has lodged a notice of motion seeking clarity on the number of burial plots remaining and council’s plans for future cemetery capacity.
“I don’t know how many plots are left. I don’t know what the council’s long-term plan is,” he said.
“I heard the general cemetery could have as few as 6 to 12 plots remaining but I would like the council to establish the actual figure through a report.”
Cr Strickland said planning should begin at least 20 years ahead because establishing new cemetery land could take between 10 and 15 years.
Goulburn’s location within the Sydney drinking water catchment could further complicate the process.
Despite declining demand for burial plots, Cr Strickland said the council needed to establish current capacity and plan for future needs.
Stating the council would ultimately be responsible for the cost, with the expense passed onto ratepayers.
“I hope a council report will identify possible locations, remaining capacity and costs associated with future cemetery development,” he said.
RJ Sidney Craig Funeral Directors managing director John Crooks, who has worked as a funeral director for 41 years, said action was needed before capacity became an urgent problem.
“Cemetery planning is measured in decades, not months,” Mr Crooks said.
“We now have an opportunity to plan calmly and responsibly right now before capacity becomes a crisis.”
Mr Crooks said areas within the existing cemetery were being investigated which could potentially accommodate about 150 additional burials but described this as a “Band-Aid effect”.
Changing funeral preferences have reduced some pressure on burial space.
Crooks estimated cremations now account for 65 to 70 per cent of funerals locally, a significant reversal from about 15 years ago when he estimated around 85 per cent were burials.
He said affordability had contributed to the shift.
Despite increasing cremation rates, Cr Strickland said council still needed to determine its remaining burial capacity.
“This is not being critical of the council’s plans,” he said.
“I just want to know, this is a point in time, where are we at? What are we doing? What’s the plan?”
